Methuen Resident is NECC Student of the Month

Amine Ekinci is smiling and wearing a yellow headscarf that matches the sunflowers on her denim jacket

Amine Ekinci is NECC Student of the Month for October

Amine Berra Ekinci of Methuen, a Hospitality Management, Business Transfer major, was named Northern Essex Community College’s Student of the Month for October, based on her academic record and her campus involvement.

Ekinci works as an intern in the college’s events department and she was nominated by Allison Gagne, the college’s events coordinator, as well as Lindsay Graham, Institutional Advancement, and Mary Murphy, Administration and Finance.

A 2018 graduate of Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical School, Ekinci was selected as an NECC Presidential Scholar, a scholarship program recognizing motivated high school students who elect to attend Northern Essex. She plans to earn her associate degree in 2021 and transfer to a bachelor’s degree program in business management. She is also interested in American Sign Language and is planning on getting a certificate or degree.

While working and studying at the college, she has maintained a second job as a guest service specialist for the Marriott.

Despite all that she’s juggling, Ekinci is one of the college’s most dependable student volunteers, wrote Gagne. “She volunteered for two of our large scale events: NECC Homecoming/5K and the golf tournament.”

Gagne also appreciates what she brings to her internship. “It has been so helpful to me to have someone that can carry out tasks with little or no supervision, on time and on-point.”

Ekinci says her mother is her role model. “Being reminded of sacrifices that my mom made for me propels me to work harder every day.”

She is also appreciative of the NECC faculty and staff, who she says have been “welcoming, helpful, and have exemplified what a productive and effective workplace should look like.”

Student of the Month Recognition is handled by the college’s Student Affairs Committee.  Students may be recognized for academic achievement, engagement in the college or the community, or willingness to help other students, and can be nominated by faculty, staff, or other students.

All nominated students will receive a certificate with a copy of the nomination and be eligible to receive a $25 Follett gift card to be used at the college bookstore.

Free Health Program for English Learners

woman in scrubs with stethoscope around her neckNorthern Essex Community College will hold Information sessions for a new, free, job-training program designed to prepare English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) into the work force as certified nursing assistants (CNA) will be held in December and January at 420 Common St. Lawrence.

This program is funded by a $145,000 Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE) TRAIN grant and executed in partnership with the MassHire Career Center, MassHire Workforce Board, Lawrence Community Works, and area healthcare providers. The program, titled Healthcare Pathways at NECC, is specifically for unemployed or under employed adult learners with limited English Language skills – many of whom are recent immigrants.

The information sessions will be held in Room LH 206 of 420 Common St., Lawrence, on December 9, 12, 16 and 19 and January 6 and 9 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

The program will run for 12 weeks on the Lawrence (campus), beginning in February and ending in June. There will be two consecutive cycles of 15 students in each. The students will begin with ESOL training. This will continue with an integrated ESOL+ CNA training model that includes clinical rotations and internships. The program is completely free to students. All materials including books, uniforms and fees associated with CORI and Red Cross testing are free to students. Vouchers for transportation and childcare are also available.

Students who complete the program will earn five industry-recognized, “stackable” credentials including Home Health Aid, CNA Certification, ESOL Certificate, CPR Certificate, and six NECC college credits upon enrollment in a Northern Essex health care program.

For additional information on the information sessions or the 12-week Healthcare Pathways at NECC Program, contact Kizzy Borbon, recruiter/coordinator in NECC’s Center for Adult Education at kborbon@necc.mass.edu or call her at 978-655-5846.

This program was created in response to the Northeast Regional Planning Blueprint, which identified healthcare as the region’s largest employer, totaling 90,000 jobs. This sector is expected to add nearly 11,000 jobs by 2022. Demand for home health aides is expected to grow by 30 percent while demand for CNAs will grow by 26 percent.

 

 

Governor Baker Appoints Lawrence Educator to NECC Board of Trustees

Portrait of Shalimar Quiles newest NECC Trustee member.Shalimar Quiles, head of the Hennessey School in Lawrence, has been appointed to the Northern Essex Community College Board of Trustees by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

Born and raised in Lawrence and a 2008 graduate of Northern Essex, Quiles has been working for the Lawrence School System since 2012.  She was hired as scholar re-engagement manager; named the superintendent’s chief of staff later that year; and appointed school leader (principal) of the Hennessey School, which has 384 students, pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade, in 2016.  Before coming to Lawrence Public Schools, she served as senior coordinator of Family and Community Relations for the UP Education Network, a school turnaround organization in Boston.

“Shalimar is going to be a fantastic addition to our board, and I am so impressed with all she has accomplished,” said Lane Glenn, president of Northern Essex.  “As a recent graduate of the college, she understands our mission and our students.   And, her insight will help us better serve the Lawrence Public Schools.”

Quiles attended the Arlington School in Lawrence and is a graduate of Lawrence High School.  After earning her associate degree in communications from NECC, Quiles transferred to Simmons College, graduating in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a minor in Spanish.   In 2017, she graduated with a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Merrimack College.

“I feel incredibly grateful and fortunate to be able to serve the college and the broader community,” said Quiles after learning of her appointment to the Northern Essex board.

Governor Baker appointed Quiles to replace Joe D’Orazio of Haverhill, who joined the trustees in 2015.

The college’s Board of Trustees includes nine members who are appointed by the governor of the state to a maximum of two five-year terms as well as an alumni-elected member, who also serves a maximum of 10 years, and a student trustee who serves for two semesters.